A brother asked Abba Matoes:  What shall I do?  My tongue causes me trouble and whenever I am among people, I cannot control it and I condemn them in all their good deeds and contradict them.  What, therefore, shall I do?  The old man answered him: If you cannot control yourself, go away from people and live alone.  For this is a weakness.  Those who live together with others ought not to be square, but round, in order to turn toward all.  Further, the old man said: I live alone not because of my virtue, but rather because of my weakness.  You see, those who live among people are the strong ones.

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